The new Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar begins previews March 1. Playbill.com looks back at a number of past stage and screen adaptations of the rock opera.

Superstar first came to life as a 1970 double LP, which is credited as the birth of the musical theatre concept recording. The show opened at Broadway's Mark Hellinger Theatre in October 1971. Director Tom O'Horgan's cast featured Jeff Fenholt as Jesus, Ben Vereen as Judas and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene.

It received Broadway revivals in 1977 (starring William Daniel Grey and Patrick Jude) and 2000 (with Glenn Carter and Tony Vincent). Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson starred in the 1973 film adaptation, which was directed by Norman Jewison and shot on location in Israel.

Superstar has been staged all around the world regularly over the last 40 years.

PHOTO ARCHIVE: Jesus Christ Superstar on Stage and Screen

PHOTO ARCHIVE: Jesus Christ Superstar on Stage and Screen

The most recent revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar closed on this date two years ago. Playbill looks back at the show in various stage and screen incarnations.

44 PHOTOS

Playbill Cover from the original Broadway production

Jeff Fenholt and company in the original Broadway production
Friedman-Abeles

Jeff Fenholt and company in the original Broadway production
Friedman-Abeles

Carl Anderson, Ted Neeley and Yvonne Elliman starred in the 1973 film

Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson in the 1973 film

Ted Neeley in the 1973 film

Yvonne Elliman and Ted Neeley in the 1973 film

Carl Anderson in the 1973 film

Playbill Cover from the 1977 Broadway revival

Billy Porter in a 1998 Nyack production
Bob Vergara

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Directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, The Who's Tommy), Jesus Christ Superstar was a critical hit at the Stratford Festival, where it played an extended, sold-out run last summer. It transferred to the La Jolla Playhouse for an engagement through Dec. 31. Superstar will officially open on Broadway March 22.

The work was initially conceived a stadium event, according to current director McAnuff, whose new production straddles Christ's historic rise as a religious phenomenon and contemporary media sensationalism, through the incorporation of news tickers. The cinematic staging puts focus on the multi-layered emotional triangle between Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot and Mary Madgelene.